1. Now in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth of the month, as I was amongst the captives by the river Chebar, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.
2. In the fifth of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin’s captivity,
3. the Lord’s word came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Kasdim by the river Chebar; and the Lord’s hand was there on him.
4. I looked, and behold, a stormy wind came out of the north: a great cloud, with flashing lightning, and a brightness around it, and out of the middle of it as it were glowing metal, out of the middle of the fire.
5. Out of its centre came the likeness of four living creatures. This was their appearance: They had the likeness of a man.
6. Everyone had four faces, and each one of them had four wings.
7. Their feet were straight feet. The sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf’s foot; and they sparkled like burnished bronze.
8. They had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides. The four of them had their faces and their wings like this:
9. Their wings were joined to one another. They didn’t turn when they went. Each one went straight forward.
10. As for the likeness of their faces, they had the face of a man. The four of them had the face of a lion on the right side. The four of them had the face of an ox on the left side. The four of them also had the face of an eagle.
11. Such were their faces. Their wings were spread out above. Two wings of each one touched another, and two covered their bodies.
12. Each one went straight forward: where the spirit was to go, they went. They didn’t turn when they went.